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His foot infection has cleared and Steve Smith is expected to be in the starting line-up when the Panthers travel to Tampa Bay to open their NFL season. Smith was on crutches and missed several practices while his left foot healed.

So after the Panthers and Bucs wrap up their game, Smith will take both shoes off and walk barefoot back to the locker room. It's not a part of his recovery from the infection. Smith will go shoeless to raise awareness and money for 300 million children who walk in their bare feet because they have no shoes.

Samaritan's Feet announced the football version of its “Barefoot For Bare Feet” program and Smith will shed his shoes after 16 games in the regular season. Each week, Samaritan's Feet will put Smith's game worn shoes up for auction. The money raised with go toward providing shoes to children in need.

“This isn’t a publicity stunt to bring attention to myself," Smith said in a press release. "The money and shoes raised will go towards placing a new pair of shoes on the feet of a child in need anywhere in the world. I am doing this each week so that people won’t suffer any more."

His duties don't stop there. Before each of the eight away games, Smith will deliver new socks and shoes to children in the cities where the Panthers play. It begins this Saturday in Tampa where 400 pairs of shoes will find a new home.

Steve Smith has contributed so much to the NFL, the Panthers and the city of Charlotte. This is one of his greatest highlights.